CN110573031B

CN110573031B - Homogenized vegetable material comprising an alkaline pH modifier

Info

Publication number: CN110573031B
Application number: CN201880028343.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·阿吉特库马尔; C·德弗莱尔; G·朗
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2017-05-24
Filing date: 2018-05-22
Publication date: 2022-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-22
Also published as: UA125525C2; EP3629776B1; US20210153541A1; KR102638408B1; JP7112431B2; EP3629776A1; RU2019136369A3; RU2770198C2; RU2019136369A; BR112019022284A2; KR20200010295A; MX2019013605A; CN110573031A; JP2020520638A; WO2018215479A1

Abstract

There is provided a homogenized vegetable material comprising greater than or equal to about 60 wt% particulate plant material, an aerosol former, and an alkaline pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm. The homogenized vegetable material is advantageously used as an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article.

Description

Homogenized vegetable material comprising an alkaline pH modifier

Technical Field

The present invention relates to homogenized vegetable material. The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating rod comprising a sheet of gathered homogenized vegetable material and to an aerosol-generating article comprising such a rod. In particular, the present invention relates to a heated aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating rod comprising a cast sheet of gathered homogenized plant material.

Background

Homogenized tobacco material is frequently used in the production of tobacco products. Such homogenized tobacco material is typically manufactured from tobacco plant parts, such as tobacco stems or tobacco dust, which are not well suited for the production of cut filler.

Several remanufacturing processes for producing homogenized tobacco material are known in the art. These processes include, but are not limited to: a papermaking process of the type described in US 3,860,012 for example; for example, a casting or "cast leaf" process of the type described in US 5,724,998; a cement remanufacturing (dough recycling) process of the type described for example in US 3,894,544; and extrusion processes of the type described in, for example, GB 983,928A.

Known cast or "cast leaf" processes typically include the following steps: combining particulate tobacco with a binder to form a slurry; casting the slurry onto a support surface; drying the cast slurry to form a sheet of homogenized tobacco material and removing the sheet of homogenized tobacco material from the support surface. The sheet of homogenized tobacco material may be shredded or shredded prior to use in the production of tobacco products.

During the production of homogenized tobacco material using such known reconstitution processes, nicotine may be partially lost. In particular, nicotine may be lost during the drying of homogenized tobacco material produced using such known reconstitution processes. For example, in known cast or "cast leaf" processes, nicotine may be lost during the step of drying the cast slurry to form a sheet of homogenized tobacco material.

WO 2012/164009 a2 discloses a rod comprising a cast sheet of gathered homogenized tobacco material for use as an aerosol-generating substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article.

In a heated aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, an inhalable aerosol is formed by heating the aerosol-generating substrate to a relatively low temperature, for example a temperature of about 350 ℃. In order to enable satisfactory aerosols to be generated when heating an aerosol-generating substrate to such relatively low temperatures, the homogenized vegetable material in the aerosol-generating substrate used in the heated aerosol-generating article typically has a relatively high aerosol former content.

It is desirable to enhance the release of the active substance from the homogenized vegetable material upon heating. In particular, it would be desirable to increase the transfer rate of an active substance to an inhalable aerosol produced by heating an aerosol-generating substrate comprising a homogenized botanical material in a heated aerosol-generating article, wherein the transfer rate of the active substance is defined as (amount of active substance delivered in the aerosol when heated)/(amount of active substance in the homogenized botanical material in the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article prior to heating).

It is particularly desirable to enhance the release of nicotine from the homogenized tobacco material upon heating. In particular, it is desirable to increase the transfer rate of nicotine to an inhalable aerosol produced by heating an aerosol-generating substrate comprising a homogenized tobacco material in a heated aerosol-generating article, wherein the transfer rate of nicotine is defined as (amount of nicotine delivered in the aerosol upon heating)/(amount of nicotine in the homogenized tobacco material in the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article prior to heating).

Upon heating the homogenized tobacco material, nicotine migrates from within the homogenized tobacco material to its surface for release. The migration of nicotine within the homogenized tobacco material is limited by diffusion. Thus, one way to enhance the release of nicotine is to increase the temperature to which the homogenized tobacco material is heated, thereby improving diffusion. However, this may disadvantageously lead to the formation and evolution of potentially undesirable compounds. Increasing the temperature to which an aerosol-generating substrate comprising homogenized tobacco material in a heated aerosol-generating article is heated may also adversely affect the physical properties of the generated aerosol, for example, the temperature of the aerosol or the droplet or particle size of the aerosol.

It is therefore desirable to enhance the release of nicotine from homogenized tobacco material when heated to a relatively low temperature. In particular, it is desirable to increase the rate of transfer of nicotine to an inhalable aerosol produced by heating an aerosol-generating substrate comprising a homogenized tobacco material in a heated aerosol-generating article to a relatively low temperature.

It is also desirable to enhance the release of active substances from other homogenized vegetable material when heated to relatively low temperatures.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided homogenized vegetable material comprising plant material, an aerosol former and an alkaline pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sheet of homogenized vegetable material comprising plant material, an aerosol former and an alkaline pH modifier having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material comprising plant material, an aerosol former and an alkaline pH modifier having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm.

According to the present invention there is also provided an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate comprising the homogenized vegetable material according to the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a heated aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate comprising homogenized vegetable material according to the present invention.

According to the present invention there is also provided an aerosol-generating rod comprising a sheet of homogenised plant material according to the invention gathered and wrapped in a wrapper.

According to the present invention there is also provided an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating rod according to the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a heated aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating rod according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a process for the preparation of cast sheets of homogenized vegetable material, comprising the steps of: combining a plant material, an aerosol former, and an alkaline pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm to form a slurry; casting the slurry onto a support surface; drying the cast slurry to form a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material; and removing the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material from the support surface.

Preferably, the homogenized vegetable material is an alkaloid containing material. Preferably, the homogenized vegetable material comprises plant material containing alkaloids. As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "alkaloid containing material" means a material that contains one or more alkaloids.

Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Alkaloids are found primarily in plants, but also in bacteria, fungi and animals.

Examples of alkaloids include, but are not limited to, caffeine, nicotine, theobromine, atropine, and tubocurarine. One preferred alkaloid is nicotine, which is found in tobacco.

Preferably, the homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and the plant material is tobacco.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "homogenized vegetable material" means a material formed by agglomerating particulate plant material.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "homogenized tobacco material" refers to a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term "sheet" means a layered element having a width and length substantially greater than its thickness.

As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term 'strip' is used to describe a generally cylindrical element having a substantially circular, oval or elliptical cross-section.

As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term 'gathered' means that the sheet is wrapped, folded or otherwise compressed or shrunk substantially transversely relative to the cylindrical axis of the strip.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "aerosol-generating substrate" denotes a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol when the substrate is heated.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "heated aerosol-generating article" is intended to be synonymous with the terms "non-combustible aerosol-generating article" and "heated non-combusting' aerosol-generating article" and denotes an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate which upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate without combusting the aerosol-generating substrate will release volatile compounds which may form an aerosol.

The inclusion of an alkaline pH modifier in the homogenized vegetable material increases the pH of the homogenized vegetable material. When the homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and the plant material is tobacco, the inclusion of an alkaline pH modifier in the homogenized vegetable material will advantageously enhance the release of nicotine from the homogenized tobacco material upon heating compared to homogenized tobacco material not comprising an alkaline pH modifier. In particular, the inclusion of a basic pH adjusting agent in the homogenized tobacco material advantageously increases the transfer rate of nicotine to an inhalable aerosol generated by heating an aerosol-generating substrate comprising the homogenized tobacco material in a heated aerosol-generating article, as compared to homogenized tobacco material not comprising a basic pH adjusting agent.

When the homogenized vegetable material is a homogenized tobacco material and the plant material is tobacco, the inclusion of an alkaline pH adjusting agent having an aqueous solubility of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm in the homogenized tobacco material will also advantageously result in lower nicotine loss during production of the homogenized tobacco material compared to homogenized tobacco material comprising an alkaline pH adjusting agent having a higher aqueous solubility.

The use in an aerosol-generating substrate of a homogenized botanical material comprising a plant material, an aerosol-former and an alkaline pH adjuster as described herein having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm in a heated aerosol-generating article may therefore allow comparable nicotine or aerosol yields to be obtained when heating an aerosol-generating substrate to lower temperatures compared to using a botanical material that does not comprise an alkaline pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm. This may provide a number of advantages. For example, heating the aerosol-generating substrate to a lower temperature may advantageously reduce the formation and evolution of potentially undesirable aerosol components from the homogenized vegetable material. As yet another example, where the heated aerosol-generating article is used in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system, heating the aerosol-generating substrate to a lower temperature may advantageously allow for longer run times of the electrically operated aerosol-generating system without requiring charging of a battery in the electrically operated aerosol-generating system or may advantageously reduce the time required to charge a battery in the electrically operated aerosol-generating system. As yet another example, where the heated aerosol-generating article is used in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system, heating the aerosol-generating substrate to a lower temperature may advantageously allow the use of a smaller battery in the electrically operated aerosol-generating system, thereby advantageously producing an electrically operated aerosol-generating system having a lighter weight and a smaller size.

The basic pH adjusting agent can have a solubility in water of less than or equal to about 0.05g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm or less than or equal to about 0.001g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1 atm.

The alkaline pH adjusting agent may advantageously comprise one or more alkaline inorganic salts selected from: alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal phosphates and alkaline earth metal monohydrogen phosphates.

Suitable basic pH adjusting agents include, but are not limited to, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and calcium monohydrogen phosphate.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material has a pH greater than or equal to about 5.5.

More advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material has a pH greater than or equal to about 6.0.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a pH greater than or equal to about 6.5.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material has a pH of less than or equal to about 8.0.

More advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material has a pH of less than or equal to about 7.5.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a pH of less than or equal to about 7.0.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a pH between about 5.5 and about 8.0, between about 5.5 and about 7.5, or between about 5.5 and about 7.0.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a pH between about 6.0 and about 8.0, between about 6.0 and about 7.5, or between about 6.0 and about 7.0.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a pH between about 6.5 and about 8.0, between about 6.5 and about 7.5, or between about 6.5 and about 7.0.

The pH of the homogenized vegetable material was measured by dispersing a sample of 0.5g of homogenized vegetable material in 5g of water, agitating the dispersion and then measuring the pH of the dispersion using a pH electrode.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an alkaline pH modifier content of less than or equal to about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis or less than or equal to about 5 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of less than or equal to about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of less than or equal to about 85% by weight on a dry weight basis or less than or equal to about 80% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a content of vegetable material greater than or equal to about 60% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of greater than or equal to about 65 weight percent on a dry weight basis or greater than or equal to about 70 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of between about 60 and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 60 and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 60 and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of between about 65 weight percent and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 65 weight percent and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 65 weight percent and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a plant material content of between about 70 and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 70 and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 70 and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

When the homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and the plant material is tobacco, the homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content of less than or equal to about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content of less than or equal to about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis or less than or equal to about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content of greater than or equal to about 60 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content of greater than or equal to about 65 weight percent on a dry weight basis or greater than or equal to about 70 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content between about 60 and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 60 and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 60 and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content between about 65 weight percent and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 65 weight percent and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 65 weight percent and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized tobacco material may have a tobacco content between about 70 and about 90 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 70 and about 85 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 70 and about 80 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously be used as an aerosol-forming substrate in an aerosol-generating article.

The homogenized vegetable material may be particularly advantageously used as an aerosol-forming substrate in a heated aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise greater than or equal to about 30 wt% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

Advantageously, the aerosol-generating substrate comprises greater than or equal to about 40 wt% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

More advantageously, the aerosol-generating substrate comprises greater than or equal to about 50 wt% homogenized vegetable material, based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise greater than or equal to about 60 wt.% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate, greater than or equal to about 70 wt.% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate, greater than or equal to about 80 wt.% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate, or greater than or equal to about 90 wt.% homogenized vegetable material based on the total weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

Heated aerosol-generating articles comprising an aerosol-generating substrate comprising homogenized tobacco material typically have a lower total nicotine content than conventional lit-end cigarettes.

When the homogenized botanical material is homogenized tobacco material and the botanical material is tobacco, the heated aerosol-generating article may advantageously have a total nicotine content of less than or equal to about 10 mg.

The heated aerosol-generating article may have a total nicotine content of less than or equal to about 8mg, less than or equal to about 6mg, or less than or equal to about 4 mg.

The homogenized vegetable material according to the invention may be formed by agglomerating particulate plant material obtained by grinding or otherwise comminuting one or both of plant leaves and plant stalks.

When the homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and the plant material is tobacco, the homogenized tobacco material according to the invention may comprise one or more of tobacco dust, tobacco fines and other particulate tobacco by-products formed during handling, handling and shipping of the tobacco.

Advantageously, the homogenized tobacco material comprises tobacco powder.

More advantageously, the homogenized tobacco material comprises tobacco powder having an average particle size between about 0.03mm and about 0.12 mm.

For example, the homogenized tobacco material may comprise tobacco powder having an average particle size between about 0.05mm and about 0.10 mm.

It is believed that grinding or otherwise comminuting the tobacco to produce tobacco powder having an average particle size between about 0.03mm and about 0.12mm opens the tobacco cell structure. This may advantageously improve aerosolization of volatile components, such as nicotine, from tobacco.

The homogenized vegetable material comprises an aerosol former.

The aerosol-former may be any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds which in use will promote the formation of a dense and stable aerosol and which is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of a heated aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate comprising a homogenized vegetable material.

The aerosol former may assist in transporting the other components of the homogenized plant material in the aerosol when the homogenized plant material is heated above the vaporisation temperature of the aerosol former. For example, when the homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and the botanical material is tobacco, the aerosol former may assist in transporting other components of the homogenized tobacco material, such as nicotine and flavourants, in the aerosol when the homogenized tobacco material is heated above the vaporisation temperature of the aerosol former.

The aerosol former may also assist in maintaining a desired moisture level in the homogenized vegetable material. For example, the aerosol former may be a hygroscopic material that acts as a humectant.

Suitable aerosol-forming agents are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: monohydric alcohols, such as menthol; polyhydric alcohols such as triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1, 3-butanediol, erythritol, propylene glycol, and glycerin; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, or glycerol triacetate; aliphatic esters of mono-, di-or polycarboxylic acids, such as diethyl suberate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, ethyl laurate, lauryl acetate and triethyl citrate; benzyl benzoate; benzyl phenyl acetate; ethyl vanillate; lauric acid; myristic acid; propylene carbonate; and tributyrin.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have an aerosol former content of greater than or equal to about 5 wt% on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an aerosol former content of greater than or equal to about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis or greater than or equal to about 15 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have an aerosol former content of less than or equal to about 35 wt% on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an aerosol former content of less than or equal to about 30 weight percent on a dry weight basis, less than or equal to about 25 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or less than or equal to about 20 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an aerosol former content of between about 5 and about 35 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 5 and about 30 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 5 and about 25 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 5 and about 20 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an aerosol former content of between about 10 and about 35 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 10 and about 30 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 10 and about 25 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 10 and about 20 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have an aerosol former content of between about 15 and about 35 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 15 and about 30 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 15 and about 25 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 15 and about 20 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously also comprise a binder.

The inclusion of a binder may advantageously increase the strength of the homogenized vegetable material. This may advantageously facilitate the manufacture of sheets of homogenized vegetable material.

The inclusion of a binder may advantageously improve the homogeneity of the sheet of homogenized vegetable material compared to a sheet in which no binder is included.

Suitable binders are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: an alginate; cellulose such as methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose; dextran; a gum; gum derivatives such as hydroxyethyl guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum, hydroxyethyl locust bean gum and hydroxypropyl locust bean gum; pectins, such as fruit pectin, citrus pectin, and tobacco pectin; starches, such as modified or derivatized starches; amylopectin starch; and konjac flour.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise a gum binder.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may comprise a natural gum binder.

More advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may comprise one or more natural gum binders selected from gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, tamarind gum and xanthan gum.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise two or more different binders.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content greater than or equal to about 1% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content greater than or equal to about 2 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content of less than or equal to about 10% by weight on a dry basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content of less than or equal to about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis, less than or equal to about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or less than or equal to about 4 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content of between about 1 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 1 and about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 1 and about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 1 and about 4 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a binder content between about 2 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 2 and about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 2 and about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 2 and about 4 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously also comprise lipids.

The inclusion of a lipid may advantageously enhance the diffusivity of volatile components within the homogenized vegetable material upon heating the homogenized vegetable material to a temperature above the melting point of the lipid and thus enhance the transfer of volatile components from the homogenized vegetable material to the aerosol, as compared to homogenized vegetable material in which no lipid is included.

The lipid may advantageously have a melting point between about 50 ℃ and about 150 ℃.

The lipid may be a wax.

The lipid may be a natural wax of plant origin.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise one or more waxes selected from: candelilla wax, carnauba wax, shellac, sunflower wax, rice bran wax and Revel A.

Advantageously, the lipid is selected from: fully saturated triglycerides, such as fully hydrogenated vegetable oils; saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid; alkali metal salts of saturated fatty acids, such as sodium stearate; and alkaline earth metal salts of saturated fatty acids.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise two or more different lipids having the same or different melting points.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content greater than or equal to about 1% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content of greater than or equal to 2 wt.% on a dry weight basis.

Advantageously, the homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content of less than or equal to about 10% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content of less than or equal to about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis or less than or equal to about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content of between about 1 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 1 and about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 1 and about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a lipid content of between about 2 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 2 and about 8 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 2 and about 6 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously also comprise cellulose fibres.

The inclusion of cellulose fibres may advantageously increase the tensile strength of the homogenized vegetable material. This may advantageously facilitate the manufacture of sheets of homogenized vegetable material.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise one or both of tobacco cellulose fibers or non-tobacco cellulose fibers.

Non-tobacco cellulosic fibers suitable for inclusion in homogenized vegetable material are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: hardwood fibers; softwood fibers; jute fiber; and flax fibers.

The cellulosic fibers may advantageously have an average fiber length of between about 0.2mm and about 4.0 mm.

The cellulosic fibers may have an average fiber length between about 1.0mm and about 3.0 mm.

The cellulosic fibers may be subjected to processes such as mechanical pulping, chemical pulping, kraft pulping, refining, bleaching, and combinations thereof.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a cellulose fiber content of greater than or equal to about 1% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a cellulose fiber content of greater than or equal to about 2% by weight on a dry weight basis or greater than or equal to about 3% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a cellulose fibre content of less than or equal to about 15% by weight on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a cellulose fiber content of less than or equal to about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis or less than about 5 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a cellulose fiber content of between about 1 and about 15 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 1 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 1 and about 5 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a cellulose fiber content of between about 2 and about 15 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 2 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 2 and about 5 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may have a cellulose fiber content of between about 3 and about 15 weight percent on a dry weight basis, between about 3 and about 10 weight percent on a dry weight basis, or between about 3 and about 5 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

The homogenized vegetable material may further comprise one or more flavouring agents.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "flavouring agent" means an agent which, in use, imparts one or both of a taste or aroma to an aerosol generated by heating an aerosol-generating substrate comprising homogenized vegetable material.

The homogenized vegetable material may further comprise one or more natural flavoring agents, one or more artificial flavoring agents, or a combination of one or more natural flavoring agents and one or more artificial flavoring agents.

For example, the homogenized botanical material may comprise one or more flavouring agents which provide a flavour selected from menthol, lemon, vanilla, orange, wintergreen, cherry and cinnamon.

The homogenized botanical material may further comprise one or more chemical sensates.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "chemosensory agent" means an agent that is perceived in the oral or olfactory cavity of a user, in use, by means other than or in addition to being perceived via taste or olfactory receptor cells. The perception of chemosensory agents is typically via a 'trigeminal response', via the trigeminal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, or some combination of these nerves. Generally, chemical sensates are perceived as hot, spicy, cool, or soothing sensations.

The homogenized vegetable material may comprise one or more agents that are both flavoring agents and chemical sensates. For example, the homogenized botanical material may comprise menthol or another flavouring agent that provides a cooling chemical sensory effect.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "menthol" means the compound 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanol in either of its isomeric forms.

The homogenized vegetable material may be made using suitable known reconstitution processes for producing homogenized tobacco material, including, but not limited to, paper making processes, cast or "cast leaf" processes, gum reconstitution processes, and extrusion processes.

Preferably, the homogenized vegetable material is made using a casting process.

Preferably, the homogenized vegetable material is in the form of a sheet.

More preferably, the homogenized vegetable material is in the form of a cast sheet.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material used in the present invention is preferably formed by a casting process of the type generally comprising the following steps: casting a slurry comprising particulate plant material and one or more binders onto a conveyor belt or other support surface, drying the cast slurry to form a sheet of homogenized plant material, and removing the sheet of homogenized plant material from the support surface.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a width of at least about 20 mm.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may have a width greater than or equal to about 40mm, greater than or equal to about 60mm or greater than or equal to about 80 mm.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may have a width of between about 20mm and about 300mm, between about 40mm and about 300mm, between about 60mm and about 300mm or between about 80mm and about 300 mm.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may advantageously have a thickness greater than or equal to about 50 microns.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may have a thickness greater than or equal to about 75 microns, greater than or equal to about 100 microns, or greater than or equal to about 125 microns.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may have a thickness of between about 50 microns and about 300 microns, between about 75 microns and about 300 microns, between about 100 microns and about 300 microns or between about 125 microns and about 300 microns.

Advantageously, the sheet of homogenized vegetable material may be textured. This may facilitate aggregation of the sheet of homogenized vegetable material to form an aerosol-generating rod.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "textured sheet of homogenized vegetable material" means a sheet of homogenized vegetable material that has been crimped, has a raised pattern, has a recessed pattern, perforations or otherwise deformed. The textured sheet of homogenized vegetable material may comprise a plurality of spaced apart indentations, protrusions, perforations or a combination thereof.

More advantageously, the sheet of homogenized vegetable material may be crimped.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "crimped sheet of homogenized vegetable material" is intended to be synonymous with the term "corrugated sheet of homogenized vegetable material" and denotes a sheet of homogenized vegetable material having a plurality of substantially parallel ridges or corrugations.

Advantageously, the crimped sheet of homogenized vegetable material may have a plurality of ridges or corrugations substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the aerosol-generating rod. This may advantageously promote aggregation of the crimped sheet of homogenized vegetable material to form an aerosol-generating rod.

The sheet of homogenized vegetable material may be textured using known machines suitable for texturing filter tow, paper and other materials.

Sheets of homogenized vegetable material may be crimped using a crimping unit of the type described in CH-a-691156, which comprises a pair of rotatable crimping rollers. However, it should be appreciated that other suitable machines and processes for deforming or perforating the sheet may be used to texture the sheet.

The method for manufacturing cast sheets of homogenized vegetable material according to the invention comprises the following steps: combining a plant material, an aerosol former, and an alkaline pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm to form a slurry; casting the slurry onto a support surface; drying the cast slurry to form a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material; and removing the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material from the support surface.

The method may advantageously comprise the steps of: combining the plant material, the aerosol former, and the alkaline pH adjusting agent having a solubility in water of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm to form an aqueous slurry.

The method can further include combining one or more additional components, such as binders, lipids, cellulose fibers, flavorants, chemosensory agents, and combinations thereof, with the plant material, the aerosol-forming agent, and the alkaline pH adjusting agent having a water solubility of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm to form a slurry.

When the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material also comprises cellulose fibres, the method may comprise the steps of: combining the plant material, the aerosol former, the alkaline pH adjuster having a water solubility of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm, and the loose cellulose fibers to form a slurry.

The merging step may include: mixing the plant material, the aerosol former, and the alkaline pH adjusting agent having a solubility in water of less than about 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm, and one or more additional components, when included, to form a slurry.

The combining step may be performed using a high energy mixer or a high shear mixer. The use of a high energy mixer or high shear mixer advantageously breaks down and uniformly distributes the components forming the slurry within the slurry.

When the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material also comprises lipids having a melting point between about 50 ℃ and about 150 ℃, the method may further comprise the steps of: heating the slurry to a temperature above the melting point of the lipid; the slurry is then cooled to a temperature below the melting point of the lipids before casting the slurry onto the support surface. This may advantageously help to distribute the lipids evenly within the homogenized vegetable material.

The method may further comprise the steps of: the slurry is vibrated prior to casting the slurry onto the support surface. For example, the method may include the step of vibrating a tank, silo, or other container containing the slurry prior to the casting step. Shaking the slurry before the casting step may advantageously help to homogenize the slurry.

The casting step can include casting the slurry onto a moving support surface, such as a moving belt.

The casting slurry advantageously has a moisture content between about 60 wt% and about 80 wt% based on the total weight of the casting slurry.

The drying step may include drying the casting slurry using steam and hot air.

The drying step may advantageously comprise drying the side of the casting slurry in contact with the support with steam and drying the side of the casting slurry not in contact with the support with hot air.

The drying step may comprise drying the cast slurry to form a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material having a moisture content of between about 7% and about 15% by weight on a dry basis.

The drying step may advantageously comprise drying the cast slurry to form a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material having a moisture content of between about 8% and about 12% by weight on a dry basis.

The method may further comprise the steps of: the step of removing the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material from the support surface is followed by winding the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material onto a bobbin.

The method may further comprise the steps of: gathering a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis; wrapping the gathered cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material with a wrapping material to form a strip; and cutting the rod into a plurality of discrete aerosol-generating rods.

The method may further comprise the steps of: the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material is crimped before the aggregation step.

The aerosol-generating rod comprises a sheet of homogenized vegetable material according to the invention, gathered, enclosed by a wrapper.

Advantageously, the aerosol-generating rod may comprise a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material according to the invention, gathered, encased by a wrapper.

The aerosol-generating rod may be produced using conventional cigarette filter making machinery.

For example, aerosol-generating rods comprising gathered sheets of homogenized plant material according to the invention wrapped in a wrapper may be produced using a machine of the type described in CH-a-691156 for forming filter rods comprising crimped sheets of gathered paper.

The sheet of gathered homogenized vegetable material advantageously extends along substantially the entire length of the aerosol-generating rod and traverses substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the aerosol-generating rod.

Advantageously, the aerosol-generating rod may have a substantially uniform cross-section.

The aerosol-generating rod may advantageously have a rod length of between about 5mm and about 25mm, between about 5mm and about 20mm or between about 5mm and about 15 mm.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "rod length" denotes the largest dimension in the direction of the cylindrical axis of the aerosol-generating rod.

The aerosol-generating rod may advantageously have a rod diameter of between about 6mm and about 10mm, between 6mm and about 9mm or between about 6mm and about 8 mm.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "rod diameter" means the largest dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the aerosol-generating rod.

The aerosol-generating rod may comprise a sheet of homogenised plant material according to the invention gathered and encased in a porous wrapper.

The aerosol-generating rod may comprise a sheet of homogenised plant material according to the invention gathered, encased by a non-porous wrapping material.

A method of forming an aerosol-generating rod may comprise the steps of: providing a continuous sheet of homogenized vegetable material according to the invention; gathering the continuous sheet transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis; wrapping the gathered continuous sheet with a wrapping material to form a continuous strip; and cutting the continuous rod into a plurality of discrete aerosol-generating rods.

The aerosol-generating rod may be used as a component of an aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating rod may be particularly advantageously used in a heated aerosol-generating article.

Upon heating the aerosol-generating rod, an inhalable nicotine-containing aerosol will be generated.

Many aerosol-generating articles have been proposed in the art in which an aerosol-generating substrate is heated rather than combusted. Typically, in heated aerosol-generating articles, an aerosol is generated by heat transfer from a heat source, for example a chemical, electrical or combustible heat source, to a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate, which may be located within, around or downstream of the heat source.

The aerosol-generating rod may be for use in a heated aerosol-generating article comprising a combustible heat source and an aerosol-generating substrate downstream of the combustible heat source.

For example, the aerosol-generating rod may be used in an aerosol-generating article of the type disclosed in WO 2009/022232 a2, the article comprising a combustible carbonaceous heat source, an aerosol-generating substrate downstream of the combustible heat source, and a heat-conducting element around and in contact with a rear portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source and an adjacent front portion of the aerosol-generating substrate. It will be appreciated that the aerosol-generating rod may also be used in heated aerosol-generating articles comprising combustible heat sources having other configurations.

The aerosol-generating rod may advantageously be used in a heated aerosol-generating article for use in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system in which an aerosol-generating substrate of the heated aerosol-generating article is heated by an electrical heat source.

For example, the aerosol-generating rod may be used in a heated aerosol-generating article of the type disclosed in EP 0822760 a 2.

A heated aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-generating rod and one or more other components.

The one or more other components may comprise one or more of a support element, a spacer element, an aerosol cooling element and a mouthpiece.

The aerosol-generating rod and one or more other components may be assembled within a wrapper of a heated aerosol-generating article to form an elongate rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream of the mouth end. The heated aerosol-generating article may thus resemble a conventional lit-end cigarette.

Detailed Description

Examples

Cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material having the composition shown in table 1 were prepared, wherein the values shown are weight percentages on a dry weight basis:

TABLE 1

To prepare cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of sample 1, tobacco powder, glycerin, guar gum and cellulose fibers were combined with water to produce an aqueous slurry. The aqueous slurry was cast onto a support surface and then dried to form a cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 1.

To prepare cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3, tobacco powder, glycerin, guar gum, cellulose fiber, and alkaline pH adjuster were combined with water to produce an aqueous slurry. The aqueous slurry was cast onto a support surface and then dried to form cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3.

The pH of the aqueous slurry used to form the cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 1, 2 and 3 was measured using a pH electrode.

The pH of the cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 1, 2 and 3 was measured by dispersing 5g of cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material in 5g of water and measuring the pH of the dispersion using a pH electrode.

The resulting pH values are shown in table 2 below.

The nicotine content of the methanol extract of samples of cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 1 to 6 was measured using a gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID).

Cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 1, 2 and 3 were gathered and wrapped with a wrapper to form aerosol-generating rods. A heated aerosol-generating article for use in an electrically-operated aerosol-generating system is formed comprising an aerosol-generating substrate comprising an aerosol-generating rod.

The nicotine content of the aerosol generated by electrically heating the heated aerosol-generating article to a maximum temperature of 350 ℃ under canadian health sector smoking conditions was determined using GC-FID. The nicotine transfer rate of the heated aerosol-generating article is calculated from the nicotine content of the aerosol, the nicotine content of the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material and the amount of homogenized tobacco material in the aerosol-generating substrate of the heated aerosol-generating article. The nicotine transfer rate is defined as (amount of nicotine delivered in the aerosol upon heating)/(amount of nicotine in the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material agglomerated in the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article before heating). The results are shown in table 2 below:

^*relative to sample 1

TABLE 2

As shown in table 2, the inclusion of an alkaline pH modifier in the cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3 significantly increased the pH of the cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3. As shown in table 2, the inclusion of an alkaline pH modifier in the cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3 also advantageously significantly improved the nicotine transfer rate of heated aerosol-generating articles comprising cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of samples 2 and 3 compared to heated aerosol-generating articles comprising cast sheets of homogenized tobacco material of sample 1 (which did not comprise an alkaline pH modifier).

However, as shown in table 2, the inclusion of calcium hydroxide having a solubility in water of about 0.173g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm as alkaline pH modifier in the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 2 also disadvantageously significantly increased nicotine loss during the preparation of the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 2 compared to the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 1 not comprising alkaline pH modifier.

In contrast, the inclusion of magnesium hydroxide having an aqueous solubility of about 0.00096g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm as alkaline pH modifier in the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 3 advantageously resulted in a much smaller increase in nicotine loss during the preparation of the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 2 compared to the cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material of sample 1 which did not contain alkaline pH modifier.

The specific embodiments described above are intended to be illustrative of the invention. However, other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims and it is understood that the specific embodiments described above are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. Homogenized vegetable material comprising:

a particulate plant material, wherein the homogenized vegetable material has a particulate plant material content of greater than or equal to 60 weight percent on a dry weight basis;

an aerosol former; and

an alkaline pH adjusting agent having a solubility in water of less than or equal to 0.1g/100mL water at 20 ℃ and 1atm, the alkaline pH adjusting agent comprising one or more alkaline inorganic salts selected from: alkaline earth metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and alkaline earth metal phosphates.

2. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1, wherein said alkaline pH modifier comprises one or more alkaline inorganic salts selected from: magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium phosphate and calcium phosphate.

3. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, having a pH greater than or equal to 5.5.

4. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, having a pH less than or equal to 8.0.

5. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, having a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

6. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, having an aerosol former content of between 5 and 25% by weight on a dry weight basis.

7. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising lipids having a melting point between 50 ℃ and 150 ℃.

8. Homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said homogenized vegetable material is homogenized tobacco material and said particulate plant material is tobacco.

9. Sheet of homogenized vegetable material according to claim 1 or 2.

10. An aerosol-generating rod comprising a sheet of gathered homogenized plant material according to claim 9 encased by a wrapper.

11. An aerosol-generating article for use in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating rod according to claim 10.

12. An aerosol-generating article comprising a combustible heat source and an aerosol-generating rod according to claim 10 located downstream of the combustible heat source.

13. A method for preparing a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material, said method comprising the steps of:

combining particulate plant material, an aerosol former, and a basic pH adjuster having a solubility in water of less than 0.1g/100mL of water at 20 ℃ and 1atm to form a slurry, the basic pH adjuster comprising one or more basic inorganic salts selected from: alkaline earth metal bicarbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, and alkaline earth metal phosphates;

casting the slurry onto a support surface;

drying the cast slurry to form a cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material, wherein the sheet of homogenized vegetable material has a particulate plant content greater than or equal to 60 wt.% on a dry weight basis; and

removing the cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material from the support surface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

gathering said cast sheet of homogenized vegetable material transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis;

wrapping said cast sheet of gathered homogenized vegetable material with a wrapping material to form a strip; and

cutting the rod into a plurality of discrete aerosol-generating rods.